Intravaginal electrical stimulation for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). STUDY DESIGN: Between May 2002 and February 2004, 24 women with CPP with no apparent cause were evaluated. They underwent 10 sessions of intravaginal electrical stimulation. A program for measuring chronic diffuse pain, with a frequency of 8 Hz, variation in intensity and frequency, pulse length of 1 msec, and adjustment to the bearable intensity of each individual patient (in milliamps) was utilized. Treatment consisted of 30-minute applications, 2 or 3 times per week, and the pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale before and after each session and immediately after completion of the total treatment. The women were asked to evaluate the pain 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 7 months following the end of treatment. RESULTS: Intravaginal electrical stimulation was effective in alleviating pain in women with CPP, as evaluated at the end of treatment and 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 7 months after completion of treatment (p<0.05). There were significantly fewer complaints of dyspareunia following treatment (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Intravaginal electrical stimulation is effective in the alleviation of pain in women with CPP.